BROCKTON - City councilors are concerned that proposed changes in the Police Department might ultimately be too expensive. “There's going to be a lot of questions on money factors. There's no doubt about that,” said Ward 3 Councilor Dennis Eaniri, the chairman of the council's Ordinance Committee. Mayor Bill Carpenter on Friday appointed Robert Hayden as the interim police chief. And Carpenter has requested that an ordinance be passed that would permit Hayden to be a civilian police commissioner. The committee is scheduled to meet on the proposed ordinance at 6 tonight in City Hall. The change would allow Carpenter to appoint Hayden to head the department despite a state law mandating that police officers, including chiefs, retire at age 65. Hayden is 71. Some councilors, however, are skeptical of the change, questioning its cost. The ordinance would provide a $149,000 annual salary for a commissioner. “My understanding is there is money to pay for this year, but going into the next fiscal year that's going to be a different story,” said Thomas Monahan, Ward 2 councilor. Timothy Cruise, Ward 1 councilor, shares that concern. “A lot of things happened very quickly, and I think that's why we have to be careful doing whatever we decide to do,” Cruise said. “I certainly have some financial questions about how we're going to do this.” There is also a question as to whether the council will have enough time to act on the ordinance before Hayden's 60-day appointment lapses. “I believe if you look in the past, I don't think any ordinance is approved in 60 days, and this is more complicated than some of the simpler ordinances,” said Ward 5 Councilor Dennis DeNapoli. Carpenter said, however, that the 60-day appointment will give the council ample time to enact the ordinance, which he intends to pitch to councilors at tonight's meeting. “The people of this city need that ordinance, so that we can have Bob Hayden lead the fight against crime,” Carpenter said. The Ordinance Committee consists of five of the 11 city councilors. The panel's job is to consider the legislation and recommend it either “favorably” or “unfavorably” to the entire council. Its vote would be the first indicator as to whether the ordinance has enough support to pass. Edward Donga may be reached at edonga@enterprisenews.com.